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Iraqi PMU Locally Made 12.7mm Sniper Rifles

During July and August 2018, the PMU released video footages demonstrating two of their locally made .50 cal/12.7mm heavy sniper rifles.

Introduction

The Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) (Arabic: الحشد الشعبي‎ Al-Hashd Al-Sha’abi or the Popular Crowd Forces in literal translation) is an Iraqi state-sponsored umbrella organization composed of some 40-50 militias that are mainly Shiite groups, but also including Sunni Muslim, Christian, and Yazidi individuals as well. It has been called the new Iraqi Republican Guard after it was fully reorganized in early 2018 by its Commander in Chief Haider al-Abadi. He had issued regulations to adapt the situation of the Popular Mobilization fighters giving them ranks and salaries equivalent to other branches of the Iraqi military, which makes them a parallel force to the Iraqi government army forces, also being called the new Republican Guards reminds us of the former Saddam’s Republican Guards whom their loyalty was dedicated mainly to Saddam Hussein rather than the homeland, however.

The main task of the PMU is to counter the so-called Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, they do operate in both countries (it’s well known that Haidar al-Abadi and Bashar al-Assad as Shiites are supported and backed up by Iran which also finances the PMU).